Barnsley (A) Play-off Semi 1st leg, Sat 14th May 5.30pm

[Welsh_Saddler]

We travel to Oakwell for the first of two (and hopefully three) games en route to the promised land of the Championship. Barnsley's season has been a mirror image of the oft-used phrase "up-and-down", as in their case it has definitely been "down-and-up"!! A glance at the League One table back in November shows them as potential relegation fodder but a superb turnaround in form has resulted in only 3 defeats in 23 games, largely thanks to their caretaker Manager Paul Heckingbottom. We saw the realities of their potential only the other day when they inflicted a 1-4 home defeat on Champions Wigan Athletic, and of course they came to Bescot in March and ensured that we were still without a home win since the turn of the year. By contrast, of course, we did win at Oakwell 0-2 in October, so the League One meetings between the clubs have seen honours shared. The play-off scenario is a completely different kettle of fish though and we naturally look for a repeat of last year's two-legged "play-off" against Preston North End, with an away victory being followed by a home clean sheet. Recent form, for what it's worth:

12 Apr Oldham Athletic (H) Won 2-1
16 Apr Burton Albion (A) Drew 0-0
19 Apr Peterborough United (H) Won 1-0
23 Apr Sheffield United (A) Drew 0-0
30 Apr Colchester United (H) Drew 2-2
8 May Wigan Athletic (A) Won 1-4

Players to watch out for.....obviously Sam Winnall their leading scorer, who has 22 goals to his name, followed by midfielder Conor Hourihane with 10. Barnsley's squad is identical in numbers to ours, with 27 players, but their big difference is in their use of the loan market. They currently have 5 players in this category on board, with parent clubs Preston North End, Manchester United, Newcastle United, Middlesbrough and Southampton supplying - contrast that with our sole loanee Jordy !!

What can we expect from Jon Whitney for this game? Assuming there are no injuries from the stunning performance against Port Vale, you'd have to hope for the same starting XI with the emphasis being on attack. This first leg game is one we are quite capable of winning if the players are up for it, and judging by the determination seen in recent games it would appear that master Whitney has the situation well under control. It's a "given" that if we can come away from Oakwell having scored a couple and kept a clean sheet (Preston North End again!) it relieves some of the pressure for the return leg.

The only crumb of comfort I can find in that Barnsley demolition at Wigan is that I am sure that Neil Etheridge would not have conceded those four goals - but the fact remains that they're quite capable of creating the same calibre of chances that we ourselves have done of late, and we should see an open, attacking match. Our defeat at home to Barnsley in League One marked the end of Sean O'Driscoll's stint as Manager, thank heaven, and since then we've developed a style of playing that says we can win this first leg 0-2 - goals from, well, anywhere really if you consider the Port Vale game.........

[We-ARE-Walsall]

I honestly can't call this game. They are more than capable of trashing us and making the second leg a non event. At the same time, we are capable of doing the same to them. I won't mind if it is somewhere in between that, think I will be happy with any result that means it comes back to Walsall with us having a fighting chance. We are much improved at home under Whitney.

[SuperDon]

1-2 Walsall and a more nervy/close game than the last two or three. Hopefully get through it without injuries to set up a fantastic home leg.

[Tom_1992]

High scoring draw I reckon.

3-3.

[scott_powell]

I see goals in this.

2-2

[chestersaddler]

2-2 for me aswell

[Soton Saddler]

All opponents in this years play offs aren't to be sniffed at - I kind of wish Scunthorpe had pushed on through!! Or the Gills had hung on. Would have been much more confident!!!

Anyway, we're here and on great form. No doubt that Barnsley provide more threat than Shrewsbury, Fleetwood and Port Vale. Equally scoring goals against them will be tough. I fear we'll have it all to do in the second leg, my heart says Barnsley 1 - 2 Walsall.

COME ON YOU SADDLERS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Please?!)

[Ryanponder18]

Not sure what game was being watched here?! If we were ‘poor’ then I’d love to see us playing ‘great’ :mrgreen:
Some of the best football I've seen this year was played in that first half hour ..

If we play anywhere near the level of the last couple they won’t be able to live with us!

[We-ARE-Walsall]

Fleetwood ran us ragged :lol:

We basically steam rolled them off the pitch. We were quick precise and clinical.

Plenty of other games where what he said could have been valid. Clutching at straws, think they are pretty worried.

[JonnyOwen]

I am really torn on whether we should revert to having Mantom and Chambers in the middle as a more traditional away formation and set up, or whether he stick with the more attacking formation...

Attacking edges it. We are at our very best when we are running at teams and forcing them into mistakes. We've also actually conceded less goals with the more attacking formation than we have been doing recently with the defensive 433.

Lets show the what Whitney's Walsall are all about. Youth, pace, hard work and a little bit of class.

[WarsawPact]

We've had a lot of joy in the last 3 games with Morris in the middle.
I'm not sure that we'll get sufficient possession in the away leg for this to work, with the quality of the opposition.

Stick with Morris, or safety-first with Mantom?

[We-ARE-Walsall]

We've had a lot of joy in the last 3 games with Morris in the middle.
I'm not sure that we'll get sufficient possession in the away leg for this to work, with the quality of the opposition.

Stick with Morris, or safety-first with Mantom?

There is nothing safe about playing with Mantom, been a liability for some time now. Great strike for the goal Saturday, but doesn't warrant a return for him.

[hullsaddler]

I am really torn on whether we should revert to having Mantom and Chambers in the middle as a more traditional away formation and set up, or whether he stick with the more attacking formation...

Attacking edges it. We are at our very best when we are running at teams and forcing them into mistakes. We've also actually conceded less goals with the more attacking formation than we have been doing recently with the defensive 433.

Lets show the what Whitney's Walsall are all about. Youth, pace, hard work and a little bit of class.

Couldn't agree more.
Would be very disappointed if we don't start with the same line up and same approach that demolished Port Vale.

[SoccerHQ]

Yeah go with the attacking line up and then reassess for home leg depending on what is needed.

Do away goals count at any stage in the games or has that been scrapped?

[We-ARE-Walsall]

Yeah go with the attacking line up and then reassess for home leg depending on what is needed.

Do away goals count at any stage in the games or has that been scrapped?

I don't think they count at any point, but I am not 100% certain.

[JonnyOwen]

Yeah go with the attacking line up and then reassess for home leg depending on what is needed.

Do away goals count at any stage in the games or has that been scrapped?

No away goal rule in the play offs.

[reedswood sadler]

Must go with attacking formation of last 3 games try to contain like at Bradford and Barnsley will be out of sight for 2nd leg.

If we do go out at least do it fighting and not trying to hang on and rely on breakaway goal. A repeat of last few games will get us through.

Not certain but believe away goals count if level after extra time in 2nd leg.

[Well-bRed]

Must go with attacking formation of last 3 games try to contain like at Bradford and Barnsley will be out of sight for 2nd leg.

If we do go out at least do it fighting and not trying to hang on and rely on breakaway goal. A repeat of last few games will get us through.

Not certain but believe away goals count if level after extra time in 2nd leg.

As Jonny says, away goal rule does NOT play a part in the play offs!

[Mazza01]

If I am being honest I would take a single goal defeat giving us everything to play for at home.

Hopefully get around 3000 up there and who knows.

UTS!

[We-ARE-Walsall]

If I am being honest I would take a single goal defeat giving us everything to play for at home.

Hopefully get around 3000 up there and who knows.

UTS!

It wouldn't be a disaster. Any result that means there is a realistic chance at Walsall will be fine. Sometimes coming back with a lead can be hard, it's quite difficult, although I'd obviously take it. The Preston game last year worked out nicely, I don't think Preston really believed enough they could do it, I wouldn't have liked it much if they got the early goal at Walsall though.

[ObiWan7]

Fear not the final score over two legs will be a Saddlers win. How do i know this????


Because i'll be on 4king Holiday and miss the game. Just like i missed The Millenium Stadium game due to the same B***ard reason!!!!!!

BELIEVE

Obi

[Whitters]

BELIEVE

Obi

So you book your holidays when we might be playing our most important games - do you really "BELIEVE"?

[aaaae]

Fear not the final score over two legs will be a Saddlers win. How do i know this????


Because i'll be on 4king Holiday and miss the game. Just like i missed The Millenium Stadium game due to the same B***ard reason!!!!!!

BELIEVE

Obi

Bad planning! Although I am glad for you that you are not so sad as to look at the calendar and block ban the family from booking holidays on certain dates every year just in case the Saddlers reach the play offs. Only a true saddo would do something like that... :oops:

[hullsaddler]

Fear not the final score over two legs will be a Saddlers win. How do i know this????


Because i'll be on 4king Holiday and miss the game. Just like i missed The Millenium Stadium game due to the same B***ard reason!!!!!!

BELIEVE

Obi

Bad planning! Although I am glad for you that you are not so sad as to look at the calendar and block ban the family from booking holidays on certain dates every year just in case the Saddlers reach the play offs. Only a true saddo would do something like that... :oops:

Mrs Hullsaddler gets very annoyed about this! At least this year it is justified.

[aaaae]

Fear not the final score over two legs will be a Saddlers win. How do i know this????


Because i'll be on 4king Holiday and miss the game. Just like i missed The Millenium Stadium game due to the same B***ard reason!!!!!!

BELIEVE

Obi

Bad planning! Although I am glad for you that you are not so sad as to look at the calendar and block ban the family from booking holidays on certain dates every year just in case the Saddlers reach the play offs. Only a true saddo would do something like that... :oops:

Mrs Hullsaddler gets very annoyed about this! At least this year it is justified.

It's not so bad, flights are booked for the 31st May :wink:

[newjersey exile]

can any ex-pat saddlers tell me or advise how they watch the games online?

Pretty please?

[Fish]

can any ex-pat saddlers tell me or advise how they watch the games online?

Pretty please?

Take a look at these streaming sites. Some are of variable quality match by match, so you may want to try a few until you get a stream that is reasonable and doesn't freeze.

The usual cautions apply, pop ups will need to be deleted a couple of time before they disappear. DO NOT accept and invitation to update your Flash player etc .if you get a message that it's out of date - you'll get a nasty infection of malware. Just get rid of the messages.

Good luck. (Aren't any of the US networks showing the play offs, BTW?)

http://www.bestsportstreaming.com/

[Carolina Saddler]

New Jersey, I'll be in NYC over the weekend. I'll check with a few sports bars I know and I'll let you know if they have the game available. Might be worth a trip in for you?
Also I often can catch games in VIP sports, lots of porno adds but once they calm down you can get a pretty good stream.

[Guest]

I will be watching on my Android phone, using an app called 'Live Sports TV'. I can watch Sky Sports on it here in HK.

It worked very well for the Fleetwood game. I also watched Doncaster v Burton on it in a bar here. (The bar was showing Tottenham v Southampton, of course.)

The website I use is livetv.sx - a Russian site which is, apparently, blocked in the UK. It might work in the US. You can, of course, pretend to be watching from elsewhere using VPN. I use Tunnelbear on my PC and Cloud VPN on my phone. The latter is excellent and enables me to view BBC and Sky content on the web that is blocked for anyone overseas.

[Guest]

http://livetv.sx/en/eventinfo/414385_barnsley_walsall/

Just in case it is not blocked in the US.

Do follow Fish's advice above.

Mobdro is another app you can use to watch Sky.